Police Commissioner Gari Baki has called on Papua New Guineans to respect the role of the Electoral Commission and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary with respect to the 2017 National General Elections next year.
He said he won’t be tolerating anyone who tries to intimidate or disturb the work of both the Electoral Commission and Police to deliver safe and secure national general elections.
“Let the Electoral Commission and police do their work to ensure the national elections are running next year. I don’t want anyone to intimidate or disturb these officers. They are doing their role to see we elect our leaders. But if there are disturbances and attack on those officers then the particular areas in question will not be able to vote,” Commissioner Baki said this when addressing a Divisional Police parade at Independence Park in Kimbe on Monday.
He told the people of West New Britain that there won’t be any more policemen and women from outside coming to conduct their elections. Their own police will conduct their elections.
He said since he comes from West New Britain, he would assume that there won’t be any elections related issues in this province as he would be concentrating on other provinces for the elections but will monitor the situation from time to time.
He told all Papua New Guineans living in West New Britain to think as a West New Britain and respect them and elect their leaders for the province.
“I want Papua New Guineans living in West New Britain to think as a local and conduct their elections as locals. I don’t want you to bring your own style of elections and manipulate the election process or systems in the province,” he said.
He also said West New Britain has been rated a high risk area for the polls next year and they are very much aware of that and will monitor it very closely.
He appealed to the people of the oil palm province to conduct their elections peacefully and safely next year.